The Walnutport Canal Association kicks off its 35th annual family friendly festival with food vendors, local entertainment and live music alongside the historic Lehigh Canal located on South Canal and Lehigh streets.

Saturday starts the festivities with the rain or shine Towpath Trot. The 14th annual scenic race takes place on the trail's flat gravel path. The 6K, 3¾ miles, has an 8 a.m. registration and official 9 a.m. start time. The $25 fee includes a first-come, first-serve T-shirt, pre- and post-race massages, and hot soup served by the Old Post after the race.Prizes will be handed out at the end of the race for the fastest three males and top three females during an award ceremony at the pavilion.Fall frolic activities along the path will take place simultaneously from 10 a.m. until noon. The frolic will include learning creative ways to improve health, identifying colorful leaves along the trail, learning the history of the canal and towpath, and a variety of other activities.A health and wellness fair will also take place throughout the day. The Canal Association partnered with St. Luke's University Health Network and the Delaware and Lehigh National Corridor for this year's run.The Towpath Trot event is part of the Get Your Tail on the Trail campaign to help get communities active in a family inclusive way. The campaign entails covering the nearly continuous 165-mile D&L Trail which begins in Mountaintop, runs along the Lehigh River, and eventually follows the Delaware River all the way south to Bristol. The campaign started in May and will come to a close Nov. 1. The Trot miles can be added to the St. Luke's University and D&L initiative on their website.The main celebration takes place Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. along the canal. Twenty-five booths of local vendors and crafters will fill Canal Street. Barb Saltern, a bobbin lace demonstrator, will be on hand.Child welcoming arts and crafts, George and Hank the canal mules, and Jolly Holly the clown will socialize in the kids creativity corral.The woods will host Lehigh Valley Zoo animals and Christel Banashek with her reptiles, Y Knott Alpacas and sheep shearing will also be found in the wooded area surrounding the pavilion while horse-drawn hay rides will cart families around the area.Historical demonstrations and displays will educate the crowd on the old world canal town. The pavilion will house a basket raffle, homemade foods to taste and Emerald Cider Mill's fresh-pressed cider.Live entertainment will go on through the day with Lehigh Valley Folk Music Society, Jay Smar, Old Time Folk and Coal Mining Music, and the Little Brass Band of the Lehigh Valley closing the afternoon.Major sponsors of this free family event include D & L Trail Alliance, Susquehanna Bank, PenTeleData, Blue Ridge, North Lehigh County Chapter of Thrivent Financial, and Walnutport's McDonald's.All proceeds to benefit the Walnutport Canal Association, a nonprofit group that will use funds for park upkeep and improvements.